Automatic flushing apparatus



July 10," 1923. t

' 1,461,163 A. W. ROBINSON AUTOMATIC FLUSHING APPARATUS Filed May 24 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mm: a5

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V 32mg July 10, 1923. KAHJWE A. w. ROBINSON AUTOMATIC FLUSHING APPARATUS fined May 24, 1921 2 signs-sheet 2 mum-1 km Patented July 1%,

UNETED ARTHUR VJILLIAM ROBINSON, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AUTOMATIC FLUSHING APPARATUS.

Application filed May 24, 1921. Serial No. 472,289. a

is compact so as to take up but little room and which is adapted to be secured on the floor, out oi the way, andwhich is not liable to leak or overflow.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel form of valve for the vacuum chamber, having means for regulating the admission of air, so as to regulate the length of 'time the apparatus will flush, the said valve also having an automatically controlled discharge port for controlling the discharge of air.

The invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a vertical central sectional view of a flush tank constructed in accord ance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing a modified arrangement of the same.

In the embodiment of my invention I provide a water cylinder 1 which is arranged in upright position and the lower head 2 of which is here shown as provided with supporting feet 3 which are adapted to be screwed to the floor. The head 2 also nipple 4 to which a water intake pipe 5 is coupled as at 6, the said water intake pipe leading from an automatic water supply system.

The upper head 6 of the cylinder 1 also forms the lower head of a cylinder 7, which is smaller than the cylinder 1 and forms a water outlet chamber. The head 6 .is

screwed to the upper end of the cylinder 1 and the lower end of the cylinder 7 is screwed as at 8 to an upstanding annular flange 9 with which the head 6 is provided. Said head 6 base central opening 10 to establish communication between the water inlet chamber formed by the cylinder 1 and the water outlet chamber formed by the chamber 7 the side of the said opening being downwardly and outwardly beveled as shown. In one side of the cylinder 7 is a nipple 11 to which a pipe 12 iscoupled the said pipe forming a water discharge pipe and leading to the toilet or basin to be flushed.

A vacuum chamber is formed by a third cylinder 13 which is screwed as at 14 in the upper end of the cylinder 7 by a head 15. This head is provided with a central opening and with a packing box 16 The upper head 17'- ot the cylinder 18 is provided with a central opening and also with an air inlet opening 18. l i

A rod 19 operates in the openings of the heads 17 and is provided at the lower end with a frusto-conical valve 20 which is adapted to be seated in the opening 10 and to open and close communication between the water inlet chamber and thewater outlet chamber. Said rod passes through the stuffing box 16 and is provided. with a pack-- ing gland 21 which is held in place by a disk 23 which is secured to the piston by means of screws 24. A knob 25 is secured to the upper end of the rod 23. A coiled extensile sprmg 26 is arranged on the upper portion of said rod and bears between the knob and the head 17 and exerts its tension to normally move the rod upwardly so as to raise the piston in the vacuum chamber termed by the cylinder 13 and to close the valve 20 in the opening 10.

A spud 27' is screwed in one sidejot the cylinder 13, near the lower end of said cylinder as at 28 and is provided with a regulating passage 29 having an air inlet opening 30 and also provided with a needle valve 31 to vary the effective area of said opening 30 as required. The spud is providedon its upper side with a valve cage 32 and the spud and the cage are provided with an air discharge passage 33 at the upper end of which is a valve seat 3 1. An inverted conical valve 35 is arranged to close the valve seat and has a depending arm 36 which is arranged in the vertical passage of the branch, the said valve normally closing by its own weight. At the upper end of the valve cage is a head 37 which is provided with an opening 38.

The operation of my improved flush tank is as follows Normally the valve 20 is closed and the the passage chamber 1 is filled with water by the pres sure 01 the water in the water system pipe to which it is connected. To cause the tank to flush the fixture or vessel to which it is connected by the pipe 12, the rod 23 is forced downwardly normally by means 01" the knob 25, against the tension of the spring, thus causing the valve 20 to open the opening 10 and the piston 21 to be moved downwardly in the chamber 13. Such movement of the piston causes air to be drawn into the upper chamber 13 through the opening 18 and to be expelled from the lower portion of the said chamber through 33, the valve rising and permitting such expulsion oi the air and so as to close said passage ater then passes through the chambers 1T, opening 10 and pipe 12, in sufficient quantity to do the required flushing and the quantity is regulated and determined by the needle valve 31. Said valve contacts with the passage 29 to permit a regulated quantity of air to be supplied to the chamber 13, below the piston 21, thus permitting the spring 26 to slowly move the rod 23, with its valve and piston upwardly, the water continuing to flow during such regulated upward movement of the rod, valve, and piston, and until the valve 20 again closes the opening 10.

When it is desired that the tank shall flush as long as the fixture is in use, the tank is arranged as shown in Figure 2, in which a lever 39 is connected to a movable part of the fixture and also to a link 40, the lower end of which is movable in a clip ll screwed or otherwise fastened in the head 17. The lever is also connected as at d2 to a screw cap #13 on the upper end of the valve and piston rod 23.

Having described my invention what is claimed is:

An automatic flushing apparatus including a water-inlet cylinder having avalve seat, a valve for said seat, a vacuum chamber having an air port at its outer end, an air piston within said chamber, a depressible rod connecting the said valve and pis ton and extending exteriorly of the said chamber, a spring normally positioning the said rod to seat the valve and to locate the said piston at the outer end of the vacuum chamber, a spud at one side of the said chamber and adjacent the inner end thereof, said spud presenting air passages communicating separately with the interior of the chamber below the piston to provide respectively an air outlet and anair inlet, a self-closing valve normally closing the said air outlet and automatically operable upon the downward movement of the piston to uncover the outlet, and means for varying the effective area of the said air inlet.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signaure.

ARTHUR WVILLIAli l ROBINSON. 

